As we continue our Introduction to the Bible – Part 2: Redemption and Kingdom today we turn again to Kingdom. Many people who follow Jesus may not know the first message He preached was a Kingdom message. Here’s what He said, Matthew 4:17 (NLT) 17From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4:17 (NLT) To repent means to turn away from our sins, and to turn back to God, as the New Living Translation makes clear. The reason we are to turn away from sin and back to God is the Kingdom of Heaven is “near,” or “coming.” Jesus made it clear in what we call the Lord’s Prayer, the Kingdom of Heaven is wherever God’s will is done. Remember His words, Matthew 6:10“…Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 When sin entered the world, God’s Kingdom plan for the world was not defeated, but it was delayed. Jesus is the fulfillment of the plan. In His coming to the earth, God entered time and established His means of taking back His Kingdom from Satan, who is the temporary ruler of the earth. The means is Jesus. Through Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection, God established Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. At this moment Jesus reigns in heaven and awaits His return to the earth where He will ultimately establish His Kingdom forever. The writers of the New Testament made it clear when we are born again, we become “co-heirs” with Jesus of this eternal Kingdom. While we continue to wrestle with the power of sin in our lives, as we give control of our lives to the Holy Spirit we experience victory. Everywhere Jesus’ followers exercise obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God is present and extended. Some have called the time in which we live as Jesus’ followers “the already, but the not yet.” We are already experiencing some of the manifestations of God’s Kingdom as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit and live out the truth of Jesus in His love, but the “not yet,” is that moment when Jesus will return to establish His reign forever. The Book of Revelation tells us what will take place in that moment: Revelation 1:5-8 (NLT) 5and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 7Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! 8“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”Revelation 1:5-8 (NLT) Notice Jesus has already made us a “Kingdom of priests,” that is each of us has the role of bringing worship and praise to Him. He is coming in the clouds, returning to establish His rule and reign to the ends of the earth, as He ushers in a new heaven and a new earth forever. The word “Kingdom” occurs 158 times in the New Testament, so we see the theme of Kingdom is prevalent throughout the era of Jesus’ life and teaching as well as in the early church. We would expect this to be the case. The early believers thought Jesus’ return to establish His eternal Kingdom would be in a matter of weeks or months or at the most a few years. As time has passed many believers around the world have lost their urgency about the message of the Kingdom and particularly regarding Jesus’ return. The key for all of us to remember is when Jesus left to return to heaven after His resurrection, He promised He would return and establish His Kingdom, and Jesus always keeps His promises. The other thing to note is Jesus told us to be ready for His return, because He said it will take place when people least expect it. As we wait, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit and thus advance the Kingdom one step at a time wherever we may find ourselves on any given day.

As we turn to today’s application project, let’s reflect on the idea of the Kingdom of God being “already and not yet.” Consider your life right now. In what ways is it evident to you that Jesus has established His Kingdom in your life and in the world around you? In what ways is it evident Jesus’ ultimate establishment of His Kingdom is yet to come? Take some time to reflect on these two questions. When you are finished, commit to taking one action that demonstrates God’s Kingdom in your life.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Jesus to establish Your Kingdom here on earth now, and forever. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may advance Your Kingdom wherever You send me. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.